Election man speaks
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Daisy sings first
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School work on target
s students prepare to return to school for the third term, the long-awaited redevelopment of Mount Aspiring College remains firmly on track. The first stage of the redevelopment will be completed by the end of this year ready for the 2023 school year. College board chair Ian Hall, said all the planned new facilities will be available for students and staff to use next year. “We’ve just shifted into the first of the new teaching spaces over the current holidays”, Dr Hall said. “And we’re delighted with the standard of the new facilities”. From the start of the new term, classes for music and performing arts will shift to the first of the new buildings as will some of the year 7 classes. The music facilities include purpose-built studios and performance suites while a new “black box” theatre will be a significant community asset. PHOTOS: Naylor Love The remaining buildings will provide The new whare will ne unique to the college. more teaching spaces, a new library, facilities for health and counselling, staff room, and administration offices. The most significant building will be a new whare which is being developed in consultation with Ngai Tahu. Dr Hall said, “All of these spaces will be terrific, but the whare will be something completely unique to the College and will be much used by the local community”. The College has received a grant of $120,000 from the Central Lakes Trust which will help with the fit-out of the new buildings. The Sun reported last week that 26 initiatives won support at the June meeting of the trust and $668,000 will go into the Upper Clutha region. The Wānaka Concert Society has also made a donation to the music facilities to assist the school project. Dr Hall confirmed negotiations are continuing between the Ministry of Education and the Queenstown Lakes District Council for the acquisition of the site formerly used by the One of the new teaching spaces which are ready for use. stage of the College’s redevelopment”, Dr Hall The new buildings have been designed by will cater for a planned roll of 1800 students. The Wānaka Community Pool. “We’re hoping to hear any day now that this said. It is planned for this land to be used for new Athfield Architects and the main contractor is current roll is on track to reach 1300 students additional land will be available for the next gymnasium and associated recreational facilities. Naylor Love Construction. The redevelopment next year.
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Clark to open Musterer’s Hut Former Prime Minister Helen Clark heads to Wānaka’s Snow Farm on Saturday to open a 36-bed backcountry hut built for schools and community groups. The Musterer’s Hut is the largest of the Snow Farm’s backcountry huts, and its addition means the Cardrona Valley crosscountry ski field can meet the increased demand for school groups requiring a facility for crosscountry skiing. The opening of the hut is an important milestone for the Snow Farm – New Zealand’s only cross-country ski area and the only public, not-for-profit, charitable ski facility in the region. Entirely funded by community grants and with the support of many volunteers, the $750,000 Musterer’s Hut project is a step further towards the community facility’s future-proofing efforts. The Snow Farm hosts more than 15,000 user days annually including community groups, 33 schools from Christchurch to Invercargill and the growing Olympic sport of Biathlon. Opened in 1989, it was the inspiration of the Lee family who had farmed the property under a pastoral lease since 1924. In 2012 the Snow Farm was acquired by the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (Pact), which then donated the land to Queenstown Lakes District Council in perpetuity. QLDC subsequently leased the land back to Pact for 99 years. Alongside the Snow Farm’s commercial cross-country ski field, it provides backcountry education experiences that cover alpine ecology, snow caving, outdoor skills and Nordic skiing over 52km of groomed trails. Snow Farm is also NZ’s only on-snow biathlon location and it is where Biathlon Olympian Campbell Wright, of Wānaka, begin his sport. “We have worked extremely hard to bring Musterer’s Hut to life, and to have our patron, Helen Clark, onsite to open the hut is a testament to the importance of this project,” says Snow Farm General Manager Sam Lee. “In the past we have found it challenging to accommodate the many groups that contact us each year wanting to experience the Pisa Range. Through fundraising and grants from
The hut will provide backcountry stays for visitors in the winter and summer seasons.
the Central Lakes Trust, the Otago Community Trust, Lotteries/DIA, Lotteries Southland, and some incredibly hard work from the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trustees, the Waiorau Nordic Ski Club and many other community groups, we are now in a position to welcome more school students as well as independent travellers up into the huts.” Kai Tahu kaumatua Darren Rewi, from Queenstown, will begin the proceedings on Saturday with a mihi whakatau and karakia to bless the new building. The Mount Aspiring College kapa haka group will perform, followed by Helen Clark officially opening the hut.
The Musterer’s Hut is in Tranquillity Basin, a one-hour ski or snowshoe from the Snow Farm base building. The hut joins existing huts Meadow, Bob Lee and Daisy Lee to provide backcountry stays for visitors in the winter and summer seasons. Musterer’s Hut is equipped with two log burners, cooking and dining facilities, a toilet block and can be partitioned into two separate spaces. Lee said with its lecture space, the hut is designed to be the perfect “ski field classroom”. Opened in 1989, it was the inspiration of the Lee family who had farmed the property under
a pastoral lease since 1924. In 2012 the Snow Farm was acquired by the Pisa Alpine Charitable Trust (PACT), which then donated the land to Queenstown Lakes District Council in perpetuity. QLDC subsequently leased the land back to PACT for 99 years. Alongside the Snow Farm’s commercial cross-country ski field, it provides backcountry education experiences that cover alpine ecology, snow caving, outdoor skills and Nordic skiing over 52km of groomed trails. Snow Farm is also NZ’s only on-snow biathlon location and it is where Biathlon Olympian Campbell Wright, of Wānaka, begin his sport.
The great $2 book sale…
PHOTO: Wānaka App
Anastasia Bell enjoys last year's book sale.
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THURSDAY 21.07.22 - WEDNESDAY 27.07.22
The annual Rotary Club of Wānaka Book Sale featuring thousands of second hand books – runs this weekend, starting tomorrow. The book sale has traditionally attracted hundreds of people to the Lake Wānaka Centre in search of a great read at a bargain price. Rotary Club of Wānaka president Mike Elliot said the public response to donating books over the past few weeks has been incredible. “We have thousands of books. The storage we arranged is at capacity and books have been coming in consistently since we advertised for donations,” Mike said. The books have been categorised to make browsing easy and most books are priced at $2. Some newer books and special interest books are a little more expensive. “It’s a big job to categorise and price but well worth it when we see the response and the funds we can raise for the community,” Mike said. All funds raised will go to help the Rotary Club of Wānaka support projects and causes in the community. The book sale will take place over three days at the Lake Wānaka Centre. Hours for Friday and Saturday are 10am4.30pm and for Sunday 10am-2pm. – By Tony O’Regan
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Students on song again
Mt Aspiring College students have again shone in the national schools rock music competition. Daisy Orbell claimed first place in the Solo/Duos section and Spoken – comprising Oscar Goodwin and Matilda Metcalfe) were second in the band category. The Central Otago regional Smokefree Rockquest were held online last weekend. Wānaka’s Powder Chutes lost singer Henry McConnell with flu on the morning of the event and performed an instrumental as a three piece – and still finished third. Estrogen from Wakatipu High School won the bands section. Powder Chutes’ lead guitarist Clarke West shared the musicianship award with Connor Ravenwood of Wakatipu High. Estrogen, Spoken, Daisy Orbell and Solos/Duo runner up Billie Carey from Wakatipu High qualified for the top 30 semi-finals,
one of three to be held across the country late next month. The national winners’ prize packages for bands and solo/duo winners includes in vouchers, a $16,000 recording, video and promotion package, a photo shoot and a branding package. Results: Band, Estrogen, Wakatipu High School 1, Spoken, Mt Aspiring College 2, Powder Chutes, Mt Aspiring College 3. Solo/Duo Daisy Orbell, Mt Aspiring College 1, Billie Carey, Wakatipu High School 2. Electronic Performance, Spoken. Best Vocals, Matilda Metcalfe of Spoken. Musicianship, Connor Ravenwood (drums) of Cherry Garden, Wakatipu High and Clarke West (lead guitar) of Powder Chutes. Best Song: The Goose Pies, Wakatipu High. Lyric Writers’ Award, Our Little Paradise by Minna Zhu, Wakatipu High.
Daisy Orbell won the solo/duo section.
The Council Word Time to put your hand up
Badminton is back
Nominations for October’s local elections are now open. If you think you would make a great Community Board member, Councillor, or even Mayor, now is the time to put your hand up. You must be nominated by two people before noon on 12 August. Read about what to expect and get a nomination form at www.qldc.govt.nz/elections or drop by the Council office in Ardmore Street.
Senior Badminton returns to the Wānaka Recreation Centre stadium on Wednesday 27 July, starting at 8.15pm. There’s no need to book. Just turn up on the night!
Planning to offer visitor accommodation? If you’re planning to offer visitor accommodation, please make sure you understand the requirements and have applied for consent. Find information on providing short-term accommodation and application details at qldc.govt.nz/services/ rates-property/short-term-accommodation. And if you took a rates holiday on your visitor accommodation consent last year, this has been automatically reinstated, unless you have rescinded your consent.
New opening hours for pool From Monday 25 July, Wānaka Recreation Centre’s pool will be open weekdays from 6.00am to 7.30pm and on weekends from 8.00am to 6.00pm. The stadium will operate as usual. See our Facebook page for up-to-date information on opening hours.
www.qldc.govt.nz THE WĀNAKA SUN
Land Development and Subdivision Code of Practice We want feedback on an updated Code of Practice for Land Development and Subdivisions. It includes changes to stormwater management to improve environmental outcomes and provide clearer guidelines for both contractors and developers, water quality standards, and improvements to the Low Impact Developments section. Check it out and share your thoughts at letstalk.qldc.govt.nz. Feedback closes at 5.00pm on 14 August.
Looking after our landscapes Our district is famous for its beautiful landscapes and we’re working hard to protect them. Schedules setting landscape values for 29 priority areas have been drafted. If approved, these will be added to the Proposed District Plan. Submissions close on 26 August. For details of the landscape schedules and ways to make a submission see qldc.govt.nz/landscape-schedules
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THURSDAY 21.07.22 - WEDNESDAY 27.07.22
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The election battles begin The man who acts as a returning officer for a host of local body elections was in Queenstown Lakes for an information session this week. A session discussing the role of an elected member was hosted by Queenstown Lakes District Council this week and featured a presentation from Warwick Lampp from Electionz.com, the company contracted to count voting papers on behalf of the council. QLDC’s Electoral Officer Jane Robertson said it was a good opportunity to learn about local government elections and what life is like as an elected member. The event was be held at the Council Chambers in Queenstown in the first full week since nominations opened for council and community board seats. The council has also produced a handbook containing information that may be useful for people interested in standing for election, including pay rates, role descriptions, ward boundaries, and nomination details. The handbook is available from the QLDC website, along with other resources such as the pre-election report and will be available in hard copy. At district council level a number of current elected members have announced they will not stand – including Wānaka’s Niamh Shaw. Wānaka is one of three wards in the QLDC – the others are Queenstown-Whakatipu (four seats) and Arrowtown-Kawarau, three. Wānaka will have four, rather than three ward councillors from October. Sitting councillor Quentin Smith has announced he will stand, deputy mayor Callum MacLeod has been elusive for the past two weeks, and one
Electoral Officer Jane Robertson and Warwick Lampp pictured at this week’s gathering.
new name has been thrown into the ring, Lake At Wānaka-Upper Clutha Community Board Hāwea’s Cody Tucker. level only deputy chair Ed Turner has confirmed Four people have announced they want to he will not seek re-election. replace outgoing mayor Jim Boult – Jon Mitchell, At Regional Council level, where Upper Clutha Olivia Wensley, Glyn Lewers and Al Angus. falls into the sprawling 60,000 strong Dunstan
election there are three seats up for grabs. Those seats are currently occupied by Michael Laws, Alexa Forbes and Gary Kelliher. Nominations run through to August 12 and voting closes on October 8.
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Lochie’s fundraising again Upper Clutha youngster Lochie Win is planning his third fundraising event for the Cancer Society with the support of his dad Luke. Lochie, now eight, was four years old when his mum Rebecca discovered she had a massive cancer tumour in her adrenal gland. "I want to raise money for the Cancer Society because they looked after my Mum when she was so sick.” The family will launch this year's fundraiser, ‘Lochie’s 12:00 Hour Ski Challenge’ at Coronet Peak on August 5. Lochie’s inspiration is his mum, Rebecca, who is now in remission. He wants others to get help from the Cancer Society as his mum did. In 2020, Lochie started his fundraising journey by skiing 40 days at Cardrona, raising over $10,000. In 2021 Lochie and his dad Luke skied all the ski fields across New Zealand, raising $17,000. This year Lochie wants to invite everyone who loves to ski and fundraise to complete a 12-hour endurance Ski/Board challenge at Coronet Peak,
the home of night skiing in New Zealand. His efforts are being backed by the New Zealand Ski Coronet Peak team which has come on board to help him run the event on their mountain. The Cancer Society provides support to people affected by all types of cancer. It also funds cancer awareness campaigns and essential research. The Cancer Society's support is more crucial than ever, with demand for their services increasing as more people get cancer. “Lochie is our superstar fundraiser,” Cancer Society chief executive Rachael Hart said. “Not only is Lochie raising vital funds to support people with cancer, but he is building awareness on how the Cancer Society can support people facing a cancer diagnosis like his mum. We are so grateful to Lochie and Luke for their ongoing valuable ski fundraisers.” Skiers or snowboarders can register their team to complete 12 hours of nonstop skiing to raise money for the Cancer Society at www.12hourski.co.nz
Lochie Win will head a 12-hour ski challenge.
Cromwell development expands More sections are to be put in the market as part of a subdivision, which will comprise more than 370 residential sections and a boutique retail and hospitality centre in Cromwell. Stage 1 of the Wooing Tree estate at the intersection of State Highway 6 and 8b are sold and 32 homes under construction or have been completed. All but two of the 127 sections in Stage 2 have sold and titles are expected in October. In Stage 3, 75 of the 99 sections available have sold and construction started this month. Stage 4 will include up to 100 sections and visitor accommodation. Duarne Lankshear, founding director for Veros, the development team behind Wooing Tree Estate, says five sections surrounding Cromwell’s famous Wooing Tree have now been released to the market. The five sections are part of Wooing Tree Park in a reserve that surrounds the protected, historic tree at the heart of the subdivision set amongst The new estate will be connected to Cromwell town centre by an underpass next year. which the development takes its name after, will Construction is set to start later this year and sections and visitor accommodation. the vines. will be completed as part of Stage 3. A pedestrian underpass connecting Wooing Another 10 sections within Wooing Tree Park be moved to the entrance of the estate. The estate will eventually feature a childcare Still to come onto the market is the final stage Tree Estate with the Cromwell town centre is will be released later this month and next month. of the development, Stage 4, with up to 100 expected to be completed next February. The cellar door of the Wooing Tree wine brand, facility, boutique café and retail area.
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Workshop trust benefits
Thirteen community initiatives to reduce waste are set to benefit from funding from the Queenstown Lakes District Council. The Wānaka Community Workshop Trust will receive money to buy another piece of machinery for its Menzshed, as well as to set up a new Fabricate space where people can learn to repair, remake and create clothing and basic soft furnishings. A past recipient, Wao, won a grant to continue its work encouraging a shift in behaviour in the construction and building sector towards a circular economy design and build model. Other projects to receive funding include a bank of reusable nappies to be used by families in the Glenorchy area and a pilot scheme by Wastebusters to rebrand and sell surplus uniforms. About $122,000 is being made available.
The money comes from the council’s Waste Minimisation Community Fund, established in 2019 to increase the level of support for community-led waste minimisation initiatives that move towards achieving an ambition to be a sustainable, zero-waste district. “These are all community-led projects that meet the fund’s objectives to reduce waste at source or to reuse resources, thereby diverting waste from landfill,” QLDC General Manager Property and Infrastructure Pete Hansby said. QLDC is delighted to also support a range of initiatives involving children and schools. The Wanda Foundation has been funded to stage 14 shows for children across the district featuring Waste Free Wanda. Other grants will be used for composting and recycling programmes in schools. “It’s fantastic to see young people helping to drive
positive change and taking that into their homes,” Mr Hansby said. The Council received 21 applications totalling almost $251,000. “Deciding where to allocate the money was tough this year, but it is inspiring to see so many great ideas for cutting waste coming from the community,” Mr Hansby said. The successful applicants were: Glenorchy Reusable Nappy Bank, Hāwea Flat School, Lake Hayes A&P Society, Mount Aspiring College, Pinnacles Early Learning Centre, Wānaka, Queenstown Harvest Community Gardens, Wānaka Community Workshop Trust, Wānaka Primary School, Wanda Foundation, Wao and Wastebusters Another funding round will be launched early next year.
Fabricate near
Changes are nearing completion at the Wānaka Community Workshop in Gordon Rd. A new space known as Fabricate and will focus on working with textiles – sewing, stitching and upholstery. It is one of the projects to receive money from the district council’s Waste Minimisation Community Fund One of the items funded by QLDC is a fabric shredder. It is planned to take fabric from the waste stream and turn it into stuffing and this will in turn be made into bolsters and cushions. Money made from this will fund the operating cost of the Workshop. The workshop was developed as a community resource, where people can access the tools, materials and physical space necessary for building and repair projects without having to purchase or rent their own and to create a space where people can learn new skills. Ian Maxwell says the new Fabricate facility will present a “whole new opportunity for our community”. It will operate slightly differently to the wood workshop in that there will be structured education as a key component. Fabricate is the brainchild of Claire O’Connell and Sue James-Moore who have also undertaken much of the work to create the new space. The team from the Menzshed have contributed – by helping with painting, lighting, creating layout and sewing tables, shelving.
Allan Harvey and Stu Simpson check the plans.
Master plans take shape Central Otago residents came out in their hundreds through the Cromwell Masterplan and Vincent Spatial Plan consultations, and have now been sent a letter that makes up the next part in the process of getting the community’s thoughts from those consultations captured in our District Plan. “The letter is an official notification about Plan Change 19, and it looks a bit technical because it is in Resource Management Act format, but we are inviting the community to comment on changes to residential zoning,” the council’s Executive Manager, Planning and Environment, Louise van der Voort said. “The Cromwell Masterplan and Vincent Spatial Plan processes looked at how together as a community we respond to demand for residential land, housing affordability and how we plan for growth over the next 30 years.” The plan proposes changes around density to allow for smaller sections in some areas and therefore more houses, and also new residential areas in the Cromwell and Vincent wards around Alexandra, Clyde and Cromwell. “Because this will affect how and where our towns grow and the look and feel of our place into the future, it is really important that we receive feedback,” Ms van der Voort said. It was acknowledged that the material was very technical, “but if you're interested in how we accommodate growth and provide for housing in the future, please do have a read of the proposed plan change or look out for dropin sessions at Council facilities in coming weeks, where staff will be available to talk you through it and answer any of your questions before you submit”. For more details go to www.lets-talk.codc.govt.nz
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A DAY IN THE LIFE OF A MUM
A week off
Daycare was closed this week, which meant I had some much needed time off with the little man. While we didn’t do anything that exciting, we did have lots of fun. It was just nice not having to rush around in the mornings prepping everything for the day ahead. We took things at our own pace, chilling out in our PJs all morning without a care in the world. As it was the school holidays, most of the toddler groups were closed which was a bit of a pain. Instead, we decided to make the most of the winter and embrace the cold. Tobias loves being outside and although I’m more of a summer person, nothing quite beats warming up at home after a chilly walk to the park. Leading up to the week, I had a long list of all the things I was going to get done. Household tasks, life admin, studying. The list went on. Of
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course, whenever I make lists, I end up feeling disappointed when I don’t tick them all off. I soon realised that the list was counterproductive. My main goal for the week was to spend quality time with Tobias, not worrying that I hadn’t cleaned the shower. So, even though it was hard for me, I gave up on the list. I made the most of not having to work and spent it playing with Tobias. This week made me realise just how hard being a working parent is. We always miss out on things and constantly feel guilty for not spending enough time with them. Of course, the time we do spend with them never feels enough. The week flew by and before I knew it we were back to prepping lunches and bundling out the door in a hurry. Yes, my list is longer but then again it never gets shorter anyway. I’m glad I put my tasks to the side and embraced our time together. Here’s to the next time. – By Daisy Watford
Crimeline
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Watch out for those rocks
To submit a letter for possible publication in the Wānaka Sun, please send it via email to editor@thewanakasun.co.nz.
Letters can also be sent by private message on our Facebook page. Letters may be edited or abridged. Letters of no more than 300 words are preferred.
Weather warning The Otago Regional Council was urging people to be cautious around rivers and low lying land as waterways around Central Otago and the Upper Clutha catchments rose this week. Heavy rain fell in the headwaters of Otago, in the Upper Clutha River catchments and in the headwaters of Central Otago rivers, including the Kawarau River, the Shotover River, the Lindis River, the Manuherekia River and the Kye Burn/ Upper Taieri River. ORC’s Manager Natural Hazards Jean-Luc Payan said river levels in the Upper Clutha and
Central Otago catchments were expected to stay high. He urged people with concerns to check the orc.govt.nz website MetService expected an active front affecting southern New Zealand to move slowly eastwards today, bringing strong and cold southerlies to the east of New Zealand. A ridge is forecast to build over the South Island on tomorrow and Saturday. No flooding was expected at Lake Wakatipu and Lake Wānaka.
Farm sales fall The Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) says sale numbers for farms in the three month to the end of June were 20 per cent down on 2021. The were 325 farm sales to the end of June, compared to 412 for the three months ended May 2022 and 406 sales for the three months ended June 2021. The report said there was light sales activity in the finishing and grazing categories, though it was well spread across the Waitaki, Dunedin, Clutha and Central Otago districts. A total of 1,659 farms were sold in the year to June 2022, 220 fewer than were sold in the year to June 2021. Dairy farms sales were almost 10 per cent up, but other sectors fell. Dairy Support was 33 per cent down, grazing farms 22 per cent down, Finishing farms 10 per cent down and Arable
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farms 13 per cent down. The median price per hectare for all farms sold in the three months to June 2022 was $28,040 compared to $27,180 recorded for three months ended June 2021. Four regions recorded an increase in the number of farm sales for the three months ended June 2022 compared to the three months ended June 2021, with the most notable being Southland and ManawatuWhanganui – all up in single figures. Northland and Gisborne/Hawke’s Bay recorded the biggest decreases in sales. Brian Peacocke, Rural Spokesman, at REINZ said the figures reflected a normal pattern for this time of the year… “the onset of winter and the changeover date for dairy farms traditionally impacts total sales volumes throughout the country”.
PHOTO: Wānaka Sun
Gidday folks. Mixed bag as usual for us but with a definite demand when it comes to Road Policing. Police stopped a vehicle with a significantly lapsed registration, as a result the number plates were removed from the vehicle. A rockfall on Cardrona Valley Road near James Road popped up (rolled down technically) again. Council is aware of the issue and are working on it so in the meantime please take care in that section. Some of those buggers can do some damage to a car. The ski field traffic has been voluminous with people heading to and from TC and Cardrona. Thank you all for your patience with accessing the mountains and taking care getting there. Watch those speeds though, it isn’t worth rushing. Two thefts were reported at Mitre 10, and we are zeroing in on the poor decision makers, one of whom was interviewed on Sunday night. An assault matter from a local bar was also dealt with and the offending party is off to Court. A mental health incident required our involvement but not too much of our attention and the matter was resolved. A reminder that support is out there if you are struggling. The community Hub and us at the station could be a good place to start if you don’t know where to go. Three separate cannabis incidents were dealt with. Two of those were with occupants in vehicles and minors. Most of us understand the perils of boozed driving but equally as dangerous is driving under the influence drugs.
THURSDAY 21.07.22 - WEDNESDAY 27.07.22
A reminder too that if you get a drugs conviction, it makes it very hard to travel to other countries because some won’t let you in. A fraud involving a large sum of money was reported and is being investigated. Six drink drivers were apprehended this week with either a court date or half their demerits wiped. Some pretty silly choices were made. One of those drivers was disqualified from driving so had his friend’s vehicle impounded. Another was stopped at 8:30am driving a full carload of people up to the ski field. There was a crash near the bluffs by Glendhu Bay. A timely reminder to drive to the conditions and pick a good line with all the grit that is about. Winter conditions generally mean the recommended speed for corners should be adhered to. Along with winter conditions and the recreational opportunities it presents in the backcountry, be sure of what you’re going into. There is a risk of avalanches. I wholeheartedly approve going out with a beacon - pretty sure you can hire them from the Department of Conservation but don’t quote me on that. Transceivers are a potential life saver if venturing into back country snow areas. Busy night in town on Saturday. Only a few scallywags that required moving on by us but everyone else we spoke with were good as gold, which makes for a fun night out for us too. Cheers everyone, have a great week.
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Covid sufferers keep mum Numbers point to pending ‘second wave’
Covid-19 cases in the Southern health region have increased considerably in the last two weeks – and it appears more than half are not reporting it. “We are seeing an increase of Covid-19 cases especially amongst our older people, but we expect to see an increase in cases amongst younger age groups when children return to school after the school holidays,” says Dr Susan Jack, Medical Officer of Health. She said case numbers in Southern were about the same as they were back March – but wastewater testing was showing us that potentially more than half of people with Covid-19 in Southern are not reporting their infection. She said people should report positive Rat test result so they can quickly be linked in with appropriate care and support.
“Reporting your result also gives healthcare teams the information we need to plan and distribute resources where they are needed the most.” Primary care continues to be under significant pressure from high demand and significant numbers of staff off sick. Aged residential care facilities continue to have high numbers of staff and residents infected with Covid-19. “Our rising case numbers suggests New Zealand is at the beginning of a second Covid-19 wave and modelling suggests that hospital admissions could be higher than the first, with the more transmissible BA.5 variant quickly becoming the dominant strain in the community,” said Dr Hywel Lloyd, Executive Director of Quality and Clinical Governance. “For Southern the biggest jump in cases is
amongst those aged 45 and over. That in turn has led to an increase in hospital occupancy. Currently the average age of people in hospital across the Southern district is 74 years old. To ease pressure on the health system and health workers, additional measures are being rolled out to help tackle the second Covid-19 wave and record levels of flu infection. This includes increasing access to antiviral medication for those most likely to end up in hospital, making free masks and RATs more widely available, and doing another push to lift uptake of flu and Covid-19 vaccines including the second booster. Dunedin and Southland Hospital Covid-19 wards are frequently reaching capacity and, although there are overflow plans in place, high levels of staff absence due to illness, isolation
requirements and vacancies were putting increased pressure on the health system. “Health staff across Southern are doing an incredible job under difficult circumstances. They should all be commended for their effort and dedication to patients and their community,” Interim District Director Southern, Hamish Brown, said. “The easiest way the people of Southern can support our healthcare workers is to wear a mask when out in public. If you don’t have access to a mask, you can now get them for free when you order Rats. People are getting re-infected so please, even if you have already had Covid-19, wear a mask when you are out in our communities. Something as simple as wearing a mask could protect you and your loved ones from serious illness.”
Thanks to our friends The Friends of Bullock Creek recently completed an extension to their walkway, pictured. The walkway enables easy access to what they regard as an ecological gem in the Wānaka urban area. The Friends have over the years been the catalyst for the restoration and protection of Bullock Creek and the freshwater springs which are its source. The team at the Menzshed operating from the Wānaka Community Workshop contributed to the walkway extension. Photo: Wānaka Community Workshop.
Tongan influence on southern skies
Antarctica is experiencing stunning skyscapes like those recently seen in New Zealand, thanks to the afterglow effect from the underwater Tongan volcano. Antarctica New Zealand science technician Stuart Shaw, who is stationed at Scott Base for the winter is among scientists working in Antarctica who have captured breath-taking photos of the skies above the continent. One of his shots appear with this story. "Usually in mid-winter, Antarctica is nearly continuously dark, except for a slight ‘nautical twilight’ at around midday which means the horizon is faintly visible in good conditions. But this year, we were presented with quite a show, which had most of the station personnel grabbing jackets and running outside with their cameras to look at the awesome colours. Believe it or not, I haven’t edited these colours either, they are pretty much as we saw them. It’s incredible," said Mr Shaw. He was prompted to share the images after seeing a story from NIWA about unusually pink skies in New Zealand, caused by remnant aerosols in the stratosphere from January’s Tongan volcanic eruption, which made him realise that he was seeing the same effect at the bottom of the world. NIWA forecaster Nava Fedaeff says that satellite lidar (laser radar) data shows an abundance of aerosols in the stratosphere between 15 - 24km above Antarctica, which weren’t present before
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This shot was taken – without the use of any filters – on Antarctica.
the eruption. "Stratospheric aerosols can circulate the globe for months after a volcanic eruption, scattering and bending light as the sun dips or rises below the horizon, creating a glow in the sky with hues of pink, blue, purple, and violet. These volcanic twilights are known as "afterglows", with the colour and intensity dependent on the amount of haze and cloudiness along the path of light reaching the stratosphere," said Ms Fedaeff.
The aerosols are mostly sulphate particles, but as this was an undersea eruption, water vapour droplets as well as sea salt are also likely to be in the mix. "Nature never fails to put on a show in Antarctica, and it can be beautiful or destructive", says Antarctica New Zealand’s Chief Science Advisor Jordy Hendrikx. He said the photographs taken captured the awe it inspires, “and how connected our planet
THURSDAY 21.07.22 - WEDNESDAY 27.07.22
PHOTO: Stuart Shaw
is... Antarctica is some 5000km from New Zealand, some 7000km from Tonga, but we share our skies”. "What happens in Antarctica affects us at home, and the other way around too. Much of the science that we support aims to understand those dynamics in the atmosphere, oceans, and ecosystems, and to help better understand the connectivity between Antarctica, New Zealand, and the wider world."
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Wānaka Pharmacy is your local pharmacy. We’re the big pharmacy at the top of Helwick Street - open from 8 to 6 Monday to Saturday and 10 to 6 on Sundays. Ph 443 8000. The Salvation Army Family Store is open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and Saturdays 9.30am to 4pm and most statutory holidays. We look forward to seeing you in our wonderful store.
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ARE YOU THE NEXT MOREISH KITCHEN SUPERSTAR? Moreish Kitchen delivers bespoke wedding and event catering across Central Otago, our highly functioning team has a passion for delicious food and amazing service. As we get ready to step into our busy season, we are looking to recruit the following roles: Business Administrator – 10-15 hours/week Are you able to turn your hand to a variety of tasks – from Accounts Payable to Marketing and everything in between? Must be proficient in MS Office and GSuite. Event Coordinator – 10-20 hours/week Do you love weddings and events and have an eye for detail? No task is too small when it comes to making our clients happy – so flexibility is a must. You will be expected to work some weekends.
The Cleaners Wanaka have positions available from now thorough the winter months and ongoing if you are in town for longer. You will be working alongside a fun, friendly hardworking, energetic team. Hours are flexible, from casual to full time roles however we do require you to be able to work weekends. Competitive wages offered. Please email info@thecleanerswanaka.co.nz
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STORAGE Clean, dry, safe storage available now. Ezystor Self Storage, 12 Gordon Road, Wānaka, Ph: 021 242 1630.
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Cut rags (100% cotton) and drop cloths, only $7 for a big bag. Now in the yard container at Wastebusters. Open 9-5 seven days. Business Networking International. The Wānaka chapter of BNI meets weekly at 7am Tuesday morning. Great networking opportunity to grow your business. Contact Randal Dobbs for information 021 973 043. The Salvation Army Family store is able to collect your donations, this service is available one day a week please phone the store on 443 5068 to make a booking.
WANTED The Salvation Army Family Store requires good quality household goods, if you can help this would be appreciated. Your donations can be dropped at Unit 3-4, 10-12 Umbers Street, Three Parks or phone for a pick up 443 5068.
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N o t i c e b o a rd | P a p a P ā n u i Amendment to QLDC Meeting Schedule: July 2022 New meeting added: A Hearing of Submissions – Cardrona Valley Water Supply will take place on Monday 25 July 2022 via Zoom beginning at 10.00am.
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QLDC Meeting Schedule for August 2022 Public Notice is hereby given in terms of Section 46 of the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987 that meetings of the Council will be held as follows, during the month of June 2022.
Housekeeping Supervisor
Wānaka Community Board Meeting – via Zoom. Thursday 4 August at 10.00am.
Dropping Inn are recruiting for a Housekeeping Supervisor at the beautiful Hawea Hotel. We need someone who is confident managing a small team and is able to take full ownership of the property cleaning and maintenance to ensure an outstanding guest experience. The key responsibilities of this role will include; Property maintenance and upkeep Liaising with Guest Services and the Housekeeping team to ensure a smooth check-in experience for every guest Supervision and rostering of the Housekeeping team
Hearing of Submissions - Disposal of Land at Queenstown Events Centre and Frankton Golf Centre – via Zoom. Wednesday 10 August at 10.00am. Full Council Meeting – via Zoom. Thursday 11 August at 1.00pm. Community & Services Committee Meeting– via Zoom. Thursday 18 August at 10.00am Planning & Strategy Committee Meeting – via Zoom. Thursday 18 August at 1.00pm. Infrastructure Committee Meeting – via Zoom. Thursday 25 August at 10.00am. Meeting dates, times and venues are subject to change. At alert level Orange of the COVID-19 Protection Framework, all public forum attendance will be conducted via Zoom. Some meetings may have items of business that will be discussed with the public excluded, as set out by the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act 1987. Mike Theelen CHIEF EXECUTIVE
Alcohol Licensing Applications Current alcohol licensing applications can be found at www.qldc.govt.nz/services/alcohol-licensing. Applicant / Licensee
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Pumpy Jackson's Food Emporium Limited
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Altitude Brewing Limited
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Cranking up the support Queenstown Lakes will benefit from a Government decision to help fund an international mountain bike festival. Crankworx will receive up to $8.1 million from the Government’s Major Events Fund to help run six Rotorua mountain bike events including the Grand Finale in November 2022 and the return of Rotorua hosting the first stop on the Crankworx World Tour from 2023–2027. It will also secure the future of up to 24 Summer Series events, hosted across the South Island after a successful launch in 2021. The funding was announced by Economic and Regional Development Minister Stuart Nash. “As we welcome back our international visitors, it’s the perfect time to broaden our commitment to the mountain bike festival. This funding will support extended Summer Series events, which help to distribute social and economic benefits across our South Island communities, in particular to Central Otago, Queenstown, and Wānaka,” he said. The events, staged in New Zealand for seven years, will bring major economic benefits. The Crankworx Summer Series events are
a feeder series of events hosted in Southern Lakes which promoters say offer enduring benefits to communities by incentivising the development of and upgrades to mountain bike and event related infrastructure. The event generates a wide range of social and cultural benefits incorporating races for professional athletes, amateurs, youth and children. The event has also helped mountain bike infrastructure development decisions in Rotorua, Wānaka, Cardrona and Queenstown. The 2021 event was held over a threeweek period, attracting 153 riders. “The cumulative economic impact of the 2015-2021 events has been independently assessed at over $25.9 million, which doesn’t include the ongoing economic benefit of international visitors who spend and travel beyond the event, as well as the lasting awareness and hype generated for Rotorua,” Stuart Nash said. “We’ve held Crankworx events in New Zealand for the past seven years, and they have all been highly successful, attracting of international visitors while incentivising the development of and upgrades to mountain bike and event-related infrastructure.
Action from the South Island Summer Event last year.
Leaders’ programme lauded Emily Black loves helping people make big changes in their lives. “I like hearing the success stories from staff about the work they’re doing for the clients they support,” says the Wānaka based Service Coordinator. Emily started at Pact as a community support worker in 2020 and is now a direct line manager for a team of 13 staff across Otago and Southland who help support these people to lead fulfilling lives. Pact has 470 staff across the country who support around 1300 people with a variety of needs, including those recovering from mental illness, having a physical or intellectual disability, or overcoming an alcohol and other drug or gambling addiction. Through a Careerforce work-based leadership programme, Emily is developing her skills by completing the New Zealand Diploma in Leadership and Management, Level 5.
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Careerforce is an organisation which supports workplace-based training. In her role, Emily coordinates adult and youth mental health community support services in Queenstown and the Central Otago region. She also has staff working in an ‘Access and Choice’ programme which offers mental health support in a primary care setting. “Access and Choice is about targeting early intervention and prevention. There’s no waiting list, no role referral criteria, and you don’t need a diagnosis. There has been so much individual success and so many examples where we’ve alleviated some of that stress. We’ve been able to make a big change,” she said. “I coordinate 13 health coaches and community support workers based in GP practices across Otago and Southland. Much of the job is supporting staff and ensuring that the support they provide means their clients are doing well.”
She had been looking at Industry Training Organisation Careerforce’s website for training ideas when her manager forwarded her an email about the Level 5 Diploma Programme, suggesting it would be beneficial. “Anything that can help me be a better leader and improve the performance of the team would also benefit me in my role, so I jumped at the opportunity. Knowing that they fully supported me to do it was great,” said Emily. “It’s different to traditional methods of study. It takes into account your experiences and what you are doing day to day. “In one of the modules early on there was a lot about the team and how as a leader you support the team, and improve team performance. It was a really good module for me to learn about team building and team connection and to see how my role creates a cohesive team.” “I’m always looking for new opportunities to learn and develop my skills – It can be really
THURSDAY 21.07.22 - WEDNESDAY 27.07.22
Emily Black
challenging, but I’m excited about where my career could lead because there are so many opportunities out there.” There are no enrolment fees for workplaces wishing to enrol their staff into Careerforce business programmes before 31 December 2022.
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